HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-06-2018 Minutes City of Auburn Arts Commission
, Tuesday, February 6, 20181111eeting Minutes
Present: Anne Baunach, Cary Davidson, Charlotte Gollnick,Amy Sie, Sirichanh Sisavatdy, Donna Smart,
Greg Watson
Staff: Arts& Events Manager Julie Krueger; A�ts Coordinator Allison Hyde; Arts Assistant Mary Ellen
Bowers
Excused: Heather Longhurst, Nancy Colson, Kelley Kuhlman, Eydie Leighty; Not excused: Jan Jensen
I. Call to Order,App�oval of Minutes and Introductions
a) Chair Smart called the meeting to order at 4:35 pm.
b) Chair Smart asked to change the order of the presentations; to start with informational item III.
Mary Olson Farm Artist in Residence. Hyde briefed commissioners on a new collaboration
befinieen the Farm and the City to host an Artist Residency at Ma_ry Olson Farm during June and
July of 2018. Hyde noted the rich artistic history at the Farm(weaving and illustrationj and
described the Call to Artists. Hyde descri6ed the process by which the successful applicant or
applicants will be selected. Commissioners expressed excitement at fhe idea and look forward to
seeing the outcome of the Residency.
c) Chair Smart briefly welcomed new CommisSioners to the meeting,and asked for a motion to
approve the minutes from the December 7, 2017 Arts Commission meeting. Commissioner
Watson moved to approve the December 7, 2U17 meeting minutes; the motion was seconded by
Commissioner Gollnick. Chair Smart called fhe vote, and the motion passed unanimously.
d) Chair Smart introduced newly appointed Arts Commissioners, Anne Baunach and Sirichanh
Sisavatdy. Smart thanked the new Commissioners who were able to attend the meeting at very
short notice. Smart added that newly appointed Commissioner, Eydie Leighty, was unable to
attend due to a previous commitment. Staff and Commissioners then introduced themselves and
welcomed the new Commissioners.
II. Auburn Poet Laureate Nominations
a) Arts Coordinator Allison Hyde gave a brief recap of the Call for Nominations for the 2018-2020
Auburn Poet Laureate. Hyde rem.inded Commissioners that the previous Call, which closed in
November, had an Auburn residency requirernent. Upon recommendation by the Arts
Commission, the City Council took action to 4roaden the residency requirement to include South
King and North Pierce Counties. The wider scope of the call resulted in 3 additional nominations
for Poet Laureate, for a total of 4 nominations.
b) Commissioners discussed the norninations based on the criteria listed in the Call.
Commissioners commented on the high quality of the nominations and, worked to narrow the field
to their top finro selections. After much discussion, Commissioners asked if fhey could to meet the
two poets in person. Commissioner Watson moved to invite Avis Adams and Susan Landgcaf to
the next Arts Commission meeting on March 6, 2018. If the poets are unable to attend,they will
be invited (but not required) to submit a video of a poefry reading. Commissioner Davidson
seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Arts Coordinator Hyde will contact
Adams and Landgraf to extend the invitation.
III. Mary Olson Farm Artist in Residence
Arts Coordinator Hyde briefly recapped the information she shared at the beginning ofithe meeting.
Hyde asked if inembers of the Arts Commission were interested in being on the jury for the
Residency. Commissioners Watson, Gollnick and Smart expressed interest in being included on the
jury.
IV. Auburn Avenue Theater �
Arts and Events Manager Krueger gave a presentation on the Auburn Avenue Theater. Krueger '
noted that this report was presented at the Aubum City Council meeting during a Study Session in
January. The report recapped the business aspects of the theater program over the last three years
and noted that the City's lease on the property expires on December 31, 2021. Krueger fiurther nofed
that her department is currently working to program the September 2018 to August 2019 season.
Due to need for planning 18 montfis out, this is an appropriate time to begin asking"WhaYs Next"
regarding the Auburn Avenue Theater.
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V. Updates/Upcoming Eyents
a. Arts Coordinator Hyde announced that the Arts Commission's recommendation of Peter
Reiquam's proposal for the Iconic Public Sculpture at Les Gove Campus will be on the City
Council Study Session agenda on February 12, 2018. Nancy Colson will be in attendance at this
Sfudy Session to present the Arfs Commission recommendation as she was involved as a
inember of both the Iconic Art Sub-Committee and Arts Commission. For the new members of the
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Arts Commission, Hyde reviewed fhe process by which the proposal was selected by the Arts
Corrimission as their recommendation; this recommendation was then forwarded to the Council
fo�conside�ation, The Council will make a recommendation and the item is currently scheduled to
be considered at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 20, 2018.
b. H:yde announced that the Call for Art.Instructors is open for this year's ArtRageous events and
asked comrnissioners to publicize the Call and encourage candidates to apply.
c. Hyde a.lso announced fhat she is working on the Benchmarks and the Pianos on Parade
programs. The Auburn YMCA may be interested in artistically treating a bench or p'iano for this
year's programs: Commissioner 5mart suggested contacting Merrill Gardens regarding Pianos on
Parade.
d. Hyde-informed fhe Arts Commission that a piece of sculpture on loan to the Cify th�ough the
Outdoor Sculpture Gallery program has been damaged. Jacob Novinger's sculpture"Head
Above Water" has consequently been removed and is being stored. Hyde has filed a police
report regarding the vandalism and is working with the City's insurance company, and the artisf to
determine next steps.
e: Hyde announced that in the next few weeks, the City will begin pouring the plinfhs required for the
permanent placement of two sculptures purchased by the City through previous year's Downtown
Sculpture Gallery. Steve Tyree's"Hawk"will be placed at Game Farm Park, and David Varnau's
"Joie de Vivre"will be placed outside the front entry at the Auburn Community&Events Center.
f. Hyde announced that"Arts & Heritage Day" in Olympia will take place on February 7, 2018.
Hyde plans to attend, as does Commissioner Sisavatdy.
g, Arts and Events Manager Krueger gave an update on the Auburn International Farmers Market.
Due to two large construction projects downtown near the Sound Transit Center and a decrease
in customercount and vendor sales, the AIFM will temporarily move to Les Gove Park at the new
park area along Aubum Say S. Gommissioners expressed excitement about the new possibilities
for the Market at a busy park location.
h. Hyde invited commissioners to view the newest Art on Main in5tallation by Bruce Taylor. Taylor's
"Reflected Lament" is filled with Jight, movement and color. The strong and interesting lines and
shapes of Taylor's artwork when seen during the day, give way fo an explosion of reflected light
and color at night.
i. Gommissioner Davidson announced the upcoming Auburn School District Art Show in
coordination with the City's gallery program. This high-caliber art show will be hosted in the
Au6urn Coriimunity& Events Center Gal.lery, Hyde added that the installation will take place on
February 28th, followed by a reception and awards ceremony on March 7, 2018. Commissioners
Watson and.sta..ff Bowers expressed interest in serving on the jury for this event.
j. Commissioner Gollnick shared news of AVGA's recent open house and current exhibit. The open
house was well attended. Commissioners were excited to hear the AVCA gallery worked with an
art teacher from the Muckleshoot Tribal School to include a student art exhibit in the current
show. Gollnick commented on the high quality of the work produced by the students.
VI. Adjourn
There being no further business, a motion was made by Commissioner Davidson to adjourn, which was
seconded by Commissione�Baunach. Chair Smart called the vote, and the motion passed. The meeting
adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Mary Ellen Bowers
Approved the day of ,
(Ghair) (Staf�